Lacaton & Vassal

The firm was founded in 1987 by French architects Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal. They established their partnership in Bordeaux before relocating their primary operations to Paris.

The firm received the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2021, which is widely considered the highest honor in the field of architecture. They were awarded the prize specifically for their restorative and humane approach to urban renewal.

The firm's work prioritizes renovation and addition over demolition, operating on the principle to "never demolish." They utilize economical materials like transparent plastic panels and steel framing to dramatically increase living space while drastically reducing costs.

They are highly renowned for their transformative work on the Tour Bois le Prêtre, a 1960s concrete social housing block in Paris. Instead of tearing down the brutalist tower, they wrapped it in glass winter gardens and balconies to improve living conditions.